§ 39-26.6-4. Continuation of board.
(a) The distributed generation standard contract board shall remain fully constituted and authorized as provided in chapter 26.2 of this title; provided, however, that the name shall be changed to the “distributed-generation board.” Additional purposes of the board shall be to:
(1) Evaluate and make recommendations to the commission regarding ceiling prices and annual targets, the make-up of renewable energy classifications eligible under the distributed-generation growth program, the terms of the tariffs, and other duties as set forth in this chapter;
(2) Provide consistent, comprehensive, informed, and publicly accountable involvement by representatives of all interested stakeholders affected by, involved with, or knowledgeable about the development of distributed-generation projects that are eligible for performance-based incentives under the distributed-generation growth program; and
(3) Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the distributed-generation growth program.
(b) The office, in consultation with the board, shall be authorized to hire, or to request the electric distribution company to hire, the services of qualified consultants to perform ceiling price studies subject to commission approval that shall be granted or denied within sixty (60) days of receipt of such request from the office. The cost of the studies shall be recoverable through the rate-reconciliation provisions of the electric distribution company set forth in § 39-26.6-25, subject to commission approval. In addition, the office, in consultation with the board, may request the commission to approve other costs incurred by the board, office, or the electric distribution company to utilize consultants for annual programmatic services or to perform any other studies and reports, subject to the review and approval of the commission, that shall be granted or denied within one hundred twenty (120) days of receipt of the request from the office, and that shall be recoverable through the same reconciliation provisions.
(c) Revenues generated through the rate reconciliation process to finance the expenses incurred as outlined in subsection (b) shall be transferred to the office and deposited in a restricted-receipt account within the general fund. The restricted-receipt account shall be exempt from the indirect cost recovery assessment under § 35-4-27.
History of Section.P.L. 2014, ch. 200, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 216, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 149, § 4; P.L. 2016, ch. 163, § 4; P.L. 2017, ch. 302, art. 7, § 3.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers
Chapter 39-26.6 - The Renewable Energy Growth Program
Section 39-26.6-2. - Renewable energy growth program established.
Section 39-26.6-3. - Definitions.
Section 39-26.6-4. - Continuation of board.
Section 39-26.6-5. - Tariffs proposed and approved.
Section 39-26.6-6. - Permanence of tariff terms once set.
Section 39-26.6-7. - Solar project size categories.
Section 39-26.6-8. - Renewable technologies other than solar.
Section 39-26.6-9. - Project segmentation prohibition.
Section 39-26.6-10. - Timing and schedule of tariff filings.
Section 39-26.6-11. - Power purchase agreements not required.
Section 39-26.6-12. - Annual bidding and enrollments.
Section 39-26.6-13. - Cost reconciliation.
Section 39-26.6-14. - Existing powers of agencies and advocacy rights of parties unchanged.
Section 39-26.6-15. - Bidding and incentive award processes for solar DG projects.
Section 39-26.6-16. - Enrollment program.
Section 39-26.6-17. - Excess enrollment not required.
Section 39-26.6-18. - Utility right to separately meter.
Section 39-26.6-19. - Coordination with energy-efficiency programs.
Section 39-26.6-20. - Issuance of certificates and right to incentive payments.
Section 39-26.6-21. - Ownership of output, other attributes, and renewable energy certificates.
Section 39-26.6-22. - Zonal and other incentive payments.
Section 39-26.6-23. - Intersection of distributed generation and net metering.
Section 39-26.6-24. - Rate design review by the commission.
Section 39-26.6-25. - Forecasted rate and reconciliation.
Section 39-26.6-26. - Shared solar facilities.
Section 39-26.6-27. - Community remote distributed generation system.